Andersonville is easily one of Chicago's best neighborhoods, with an interesting history and a vibrant future. It's the perfect place for a quick and easy staycation idea, too, as the Guesthouse Hotel makes for a delightful homebase.

Paul Fehribach mixes classic recipes and modern dishes on Big Jones’s Southern menu. Sip cocktails like a Sazerac or rum punch while grazing on house-made charcuterie. And you can’t go wrong with crispy catfish—lightly fried and served with grits and piccalilli.

Study the neighborhood’s history at the Swedish American Museum, which showcases objects dating back to a wave of Swedish immigration two centuries ago. Check out “Skål! Scandinavian Spirits,” which opens April 1.

Once you’ve learned about aquavit, head to Simon’s Tavern. The stalwart serves warm glogg in winter and a frozen kind in summer. Then, wander north to Little Bad Wolf for the Bad Burger, tacos and a charred Negroni.

Sunday

Indulge in brunch at Cantina 1910 and order inventive Mexican fare. Chili-spiced cinnamon rolls and roasted vegetable enchiladas are among the many highlights, while expertly made cocktails include red or green Bloody Marys.

End with the Neo-Futurists’ Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind. The show, which has run for more than 20 years in Chicago and features 30 short plays in 60 minutes, is an energizing way to close out a full weekend.